spoken word. (gxg)

seven.

seven.

I was still stunned when school wrapped up. Mrs. Lee waved at me when I entered the classroom.

"Hi, Mrs. Lee," I greeted her, unsure whether I should stand by her desk and start a conversation-- she had just gone out of her way to help me out. It was a relief when she turned to her monitor so I didn't have to. As I moved to take a seat on the couch in the back of the classroom, I noticed that June wasn't there. A dark backpack was leaning against the side of the couch.

"June went to the restroom. I know you girls like to hang out here after school. If you'd like, I have board games in the closet over there," she gestured to the left side of the classroom, "just make sure to clean up after yourselves." I thanked her-- it was nice. I found that I enjoyed being here, reading to June, away from the pounding party music and reek of drugs at my apartment.

"I know that your home environment might be a little difficult, Mia," Mrs. Lee said, as if reading my mind, "so feel free to stay here as late as you want."

"Thanks."

"No problem, sweetie. Tell me if you need anything, alright?"

"Yeah, thanks," I said again.

The classroom door creaked open, June in the doorway. Her bright hair was braided intricately instead of tied in her usual ponytail. She nodded at Mrs. Lee, walking over to join me on the couch.

"Hey June," I said, savoring the taste of her name on my tongue. It was weird to greet her like this-- even weirder when she returned the sentiment.

"Hey," she echoed.

I didn't know what to say, and it seemed like she didn't feel like speaking either, because she reached into her backpack to hand me the novel we had been making pretty good progress on. I beamed at her, received a lip twitch-- which seemed to be the equivalent of a grin in June's world-- and began where we left off in the story. This time, she didn't close her eyes, instead watching my face as I read. I tried my best to be interesting, impersonating the characters by deepening or heightening my voice.

It hurt my throat, and in the middle of a male character's super-serious dialogue about a woman or a dog or whatever, my voice broke, jumping several octaves. June's face was hilarious, first shocked, a little appalled, then amused, a low chuckle escaping. It made me giggle, and soon we were belly-laughing, falling all over ourselves on the tiny couch in the back of the classroom. I almost fell off, dropping the book.

"I love that you're having fun," Mrs. Lee's voice rung out, "but please be careful." Both of us looked at her. I had forgotten she was even there. I didn't notice how close I was to June until I turned my head and my lips brushed her cheek. I felt my face flush as I jolted back, hopping off the couch. For some reason, my brain went into panic-shut down mode, and I bolted.

"I forgot, I have to go babysit my friend's siblings. I'll see you later." I practically ran out of the room, heart beating loudly and face burning, too embarrassed to look back at June.

Later, in the car in front of Tori's house, I banged my head against the steering wheel. I ran away. What the hell?

"Don't think about it," I muttered to myself. I knocked on Tori's door, a little confused when I saw that the lights were out and all the cars were gone. Maybe she had found another babysitter? I reached into my pocket to retrieve my phone and check if I had any texts. It wasn't in my coat pocket, so I tried the pockets of my jeans. Then I searched through the contents of my backpack. The third time I rifled through, not finding it, I practically dumped my things on the pavement. Nothing.

I cursed. Did I accidentally leave it at the school? I hurried to my car. It wasn't in there, either. A glance at the clock told me that the school was long since closed. I could feel the panic creeping up on me.

My phone case doubled as a wallet, which meant that the key to my apartment and all of my money was with it. Luckily, I remembered leaving a spare key under a rock at the front of my apartment complex. I drove, willing myself to be calm.

When I arrived, I dropped to my knees to search underneath all of the rocks. Desperately, I realized that I couldn't find it. I sat on the steps in front of my apartment, resting my head on my knees, trying to even my breathing.

"It'll be okay," I whispered, hoping that it was true. Only when my body started shivering rapidly did I realize how cold I was. I stumbled up to walk to my car.

My neighborhood wasn't the best, but it was cheap, so I lived there. Still, it made me anxious to be by myself, especially in the dark. I grumbled internally at Daylight Savings Time for causing it to get dark at 5 pm.

While shuffling to my car, I noticed a man approaching me. I tried to calm my heartbeat-- he was probably trying to go home, like me. He was harmless, I told myself, just cold, hungry, and wanting a warm bed.

I willed myself to walk straight forward, past him, and gasped when his arm shot out to grab me by the waist. My mind seemed to shut down, and I froze as his other arm found its way around me, grabbing my butt. I tried to wriggle, but it was too late-- he had a firm grasp on me. My throat closed up, I couldn't scream. His hands were on my thighs, my butt, groping, and I felt dread and fear and disgust as they migrated further up. A touch between my legs and my vocal cords cleared.

I recognized the blistering scream as my own.

Without warning, I was thrown onto the ground, my attacker caught off guard as a figure elbowed him in the face once, then again, kicking between his legs and pushing him backward. In the dim light of the moon, I recognized the fiery hair of the person who saved me.

As she unleashed a series of punches on his face, straddling his waist with his back to the ground, I felt a flash of emotions all at once. Fear, for both the man on the ground and the woman on top of him. Relief, because his hands were off of me. Horror, because June's fists never slowed, even after the man was surely knocked out cold from hitting his head on the hard concrete. She was brutal, terrifying. I shuddered. Part of me wanted to fling myself into her arms, the other part wanted to run away and never return. I wasn't sure which inclination was stronger.

As I sat there helplessly on the cold of the ground, tears streaming silently down my cheeks as she pummeled my attacker, I noticed for the first time the extent of how beautiful and dangerous June Willow was.

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A/N:

shit went down.

again, all of this is written from my experience (I work at a police department, so I have lots of real-world assault stories to work with)

Feel free to leave comments/suggestions/edits!

UPDATES EVERY MONDAY (except this week)